Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1887-07-28
THE PoTLATcH COUNTRY.

country; much that is true and some
that needs revision. The main body Of
this country lies northeast from Lewiston
and embraces the Potlatch creek aud its
tributaries. The main Potlatch extends
ioto the mountains to the northeast and
is about fifty.fve or sixty miles in length,
the greater portion is bordered by good
agricultural land as rich as any il the
northwest. The creek and its tributaries
is 10 cauons and ravincs till near its head.
1t empties its waters into the Clearwater
river about sixteen miles above Lewis.
ton 1t has numerous roads leading to
it from the surrounding country, the
principal of which is from the month at
the junction Of the main Potlatch and
Clearwater up the main car on of the
creek to Julicttl. From here roads
branch to the Big Po,latch prairie, to
Fix's ridge, to American Ridge, to Bear
creek ridge, to Texas Ridge and to the
level country northeast extending to the
mountains. The western portion Of this
district is open prairie save the cnnons Of
the main creek and its tributaries, and
rolling aud Of rich soil furnishing luxu.
RENT natural grasses in its wild state,
and large crops Of wheat, oats and barley
when plowed, seeded and cultivated.
The whole country is we'll watered for
stock add ranch purposes. 1t has nearly
all been surveyed by the government into
sections and quarter sections. The
Potlatch country proper has now
population Of about 700 or 800 men,
women aud children, and yet there are
many quarter sections Of land not taken
by presumption or homestead and many
of them as good land as that taken, 10
the eastern and northeastern part Of the
district. In the eastern part there is
more timber and perhaps better timber
with places easily cleared Of timber. Those
who have gone aud settled there on land
are loud in praise Of the country. Some
portions are subject to early frosts, but
not more 90 than is the Moscow country.
In the extreme eastern portion the sea-
son 10 a little later each year than the
0eueses country. The snow falls 10 the
winter q little deeper in near the
timber. The Big PotIatch prairie is .
6us and rich body Of land skirted on the
southeast BY heavy growth Of fine
timber Tor numbering purposes, and is in
near proximity to the Clearwater river
accessible BY steamers during several
weeks in the spring and early summer.
The settlers on this prairie have fine
grain warehouse Oh the banks Of the
Clearwater, from which they annually
ship several carsoes Of grain BY steamer
to the lower country. Other seasons
they haul by wagons to Lewiston aud
ship from there. A railroad is projected
down the main Potlatch from Moscow to
the Clearwater. We look tor the
Potlatch country in short time to make
- good showing as any section within
the range Of seventy five miles from this
place. II all the settlers put their efforts
to producing with energy aud not be
discouraged because they are not near q |
market. The discouragements arc felt
the more when the settlers, some Of them
recently from the older states where
transportation facilities are abundant aud |
ohear, find themselves here with the
best climate in the country and soil 40
rich ~ any, and crops that are abundant
they dud themselves blocked in not be.
ing able to move them to a market, 90
asto selland make money, not even On ,ush |
70 some cases, to save them from debt
when they have gathered their crops and
shipped them to q market aud paid the
expenses Of transportation. 1t makes
them feel that advantages are unequal
between themselves and their ueighbors
thirty or forty miles distant where rail.
roads or steamboats, have access to their
lands. But their encouragement is fast
giving way to strong hopes that 10 the
immediate future a great change in their
situation will be effected BY the building
Of railroads to within reasonable wagon
distance Of their farms so as to greatly
lesson the cost Of transportation to a
market. And it the movements of dit.
ferent railroad companies 10 making
surveys mean anything, they have good
'easou to hope for aspeedy deliverauce.
The producers have the laboriug oar Of
be whole country, while their compensa.
ion is far less than that of the parties
rho transport the product to market
nd the dealers who handle it when in ,
he market. If the producer, the